Flagler, Volusia farmers may be eligible for federal aid

STAFF REPORT

Published: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 5:31 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 10:10 p.m.

Flagler County is one of six Florida counties designated Wednesday as a "primary natural disaster area" by the U.S. Department of Agriculture due to crop damage caused by freezes and frosts that occurred Feb. 17-March 4.

Others counties eligible for federal relief include Putnam, St. Johns, Holmes, Washington and Palm Beach, according to a media release from the USDA. Farmers and ranchers in Alachua, Clay, Duval, Marion and Volusia counties may also qualify for assistance because they are contiguous.

Qualified farm operators in the designated areas are eligible for low interest emergency loans from USDA's Farm Service Agency, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses.

Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov

<p>Flagler County is one of six Florida counties designated Wednesday as a "primary natural disaster area" by the U.S. Department of Agriculture due to crop damage caused by freezes and frosts that occurred Feb. 17-March 4.</p><p>Others counties eligible for federal relief include Putnam, St. Johns, Holmes, Washington and Palm Beach, according to a media release from the USDA. Farmers and ranchers in Alachua, Clay, Duval, Marion and Volusia counties may also qualify for assistance because they are contiguous.</p><p>Qualified farm operators in the designated areas are eligible for low interest emergency loans from USDA's Farm Service Agency, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses.</p><p>Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov</p>